Canton board OKs football coach

Ryan Pearson played high school football north of Peoria, and coached at schools to the east.

He’s headed west.

Pearson was approved as football head coach at Canton at the school’s board meeting on Monday. He’ll also be a physical education teacher in the district.

“The opportunity to come to Canton to coach and teach is a privilege,” he said.

Pearson in 2012 coached Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland to a Class 1A first-round win on the way to an 8-3 overall record. In 2006 he coached Gilman Iroquois West to a first-round win in 2A on the way to a 6-5 mark.

In between, from 2007 through 2011, he was an assistant and offensive coordinator at Pontiac, under head coach Dave Young. Pearson also served as athletics director at Pontiac.

He becomes Canton’s third head coach in as many seasons.

The Little Giants last fall, under Jason Kirby, ended a 16-game losing streak with a season-opening win over Illinois Valley Central. A victory over Morton in Week 8 ended a 33-game losing streak in the Mid-Illini Conference, going back to 2008.

“The Mid-Illini over the years has established itself as one of the premier 4A and 5A conferences in the state,” Pearson said. “It’s a challenge I’m looking forward to.”

Kirby earlier this spring announced he would leave Canton to become head coach at East Moline. Kirby had succeeded Justin Miller as head coach at Canton.

Pearson was a Journal Star small-school all-area senior lineman on the 1997 Stark County team that finished as the 1A state runner-up, under late coach Gary Johnson. Pearson went on to play at Monmouth College.

Pearson did not teach or coach this school year. He left Flanagan-Cornell in 2013 and returned to his hometown of Toulon, where since then he has worked as a contractor with his father.

“When I left coaching and teaching, the plan all along was that it was just temporary,” Pearson said. “I’m excited to be back and I’m ready to get started.”

Canton this fall will open at home against IVC and play at Streator in Week 2. Canton will begin its Mid-Illini season at Washington in Week 3.

Lonnie Schwindenhammer can be reached at 686-3214 or lschwindenhammer@pjstar.com